Hey, I've got the option to purchase my S from a long time friend, but I don't know enough about the S to know if I should.

He has a '00 S2000 with around 88,000mi, perfect service records, always done on time and never skipped anything. It's silver and red interior, which I absolutely love. He's the first and only owner of the car.

He's not a young guy and I know he hasn't really pushed this car like an enthusiast would have -- he enjoys the car but I know he isn't redlining or even vtec-ing it with any regularity.


So I'm wondering, does a well-treated S still have a good bit of life in it at 88k?

Also, I was thinking about offering around $13-$14k for it, which seems to be a fair price based on what I've found online -- do you think it's worth this? (Worth more or less?)

I just don't want to buy the car and find that something substantial fails at 120k costing me thousands upon thousands more to repair. No idea how risky it is.

~betterth

 

My car is also an '00 with red interior. I have 109K miles on it right now and it still runs very strong. I recently just had my valve adjustment done and the only real mechanical problem I had with the car was the clutch. $13K sounds like a fair price. How is the condition of the soft top and paint? I just kind of hate the idea of purchasing a car from a friend or a relative though.

 

I can understand, but he's cool. He's a mentor of mine and I've always loved his car.

I would never blame him even if something failed a thousand miles later, but if it did, chances are he'd help me anyway. He's a really cool guy.

He offered to do the 90k recommended service before I buy it, even if I pick it up before 90k, which I thought was nice. (~$1k there, I'm told).

So it seems 88k that was taken care of and maintained, garage kept the entire time and driven by, as he says, "an old guy who doesn't drive like a twenty five year old" sounds like a good bet.

I'm very glad to hear this.

 

I think you're fine if you have service history etc to look at, and that would be a smoking deal if he's willing to sell it to you for that range.

Thing is, you'll have to pay to play if you want newer or lower miles.

I think it's great to buy from an original owner since you know he cared for it a lot to hold on to it for that long.

There are some signs of wear on my MY02 and there are some squeaks and rattles, but the car is just as strong (well, stronger actually) than the day I bought it, and it's just as tight.

Good luck.

 

Oh, and there's nothing specific that's likely to go at higher miles. No timing belt to worry about. No specific weaknesses, really. You might want to have a compression test done on the engine just for your own peace of mind.

Moved to introductions.

 

man you already sold yourself the car why are you asking us? its a great deal and I would take it

 

If its earlier than a 99, its too old. In fact, its probably not an S2000!


88k is nothing to worry asbout, but why is he selling it? If something fails at 120k, thats still a good 32k you got out of it.

 

Actually, 00s do have weaknesses in the banjo bolts, no? 00s also had many TSBs (service bullitens) issued. so you probably want to make sure they were done.

 

Well, there was never a recall for that Saki. Not in the US, anyway. The recall was on the spark plugs, which I guess I should've mentioned.

Mid-year in MY02, they introduced the 4-hole oil bolt replacement for the 2-hole bolt. That said, there was never any specific relationship between engine problems and the bolt that was ever indicated by AHM. If you're buying a used MY00-earlyMY02, I wouldn't worry about the bolts.

 

Sounds like a good deal.